Empty tank hurts Gary Woodland in late second-round fade at U.S. Open

Early charge results in 32 on front nine, but Topekan settles for 71

Gary Woodland reacts to his tee shot on the ninth hole during Friday's second round of the U.S. Open golf tournament in Pinehurst, N.C. Woodland shot a 1-over 71 Friday to bring his two-day total to 3-over.

Roy Williams even exchanged waves at a tee box along the back nine and offered encouragement.

Full mojo seemed to be in effect for Gary Woodland as the Kansas product birdied three holes along the front side Friday and went out with a 32 at Pinehurst No. 2 to begin the second round of the U.S. Open.

By the end, however, Woodland needed fuel. (Either that, or dadgum Roy was to blame.)

After teeing off at 6:51 a.m. Topeka time, Woodland began to feel pangs, which left his clubs to ping unevenly. He bogeyed three of the last four holes, shot 39 on the back and finished with a 1-over 71 for his round while moving to 3-over (72-71) for the championship.

“I started off well and I was feeling great,” Woodland said. “I hit the ball like I thought I was capable. I really like the way I’m hitting it right now. I just think I ran out of gas.”

His late collapse just happened to coincide with Woodland’s first three-putt of the Open — on greens that softened and slowed a touch after Pinehurst was hit with an inch of rain the night before.

The slip-up came on No. 15, a par-3 that played to a nasty pin location on the right-hand side of the green. Woodland hit over the green, then was in position to watch playing partner J.B. Holmes.

Although Holmes missed, Woodland figured he had the read for his par. However, the slippery 5-footer slid past and the bogey dropped Woodland to 1-over for the tournament after he had gotten to red figures along the front nine.

“I watched J.B.’s putt and got a good read and I really liked the way I hit it, but I missed and got bogey,” Woodland said. “I wasn’t as upset about that as the last two bogeys I made.

“I don’t think it was the three-putt, or the way I played any particular hole as much as I ran out of gas. I didn’t eat enough, and that’s on me for not getting the proper nutrition in the morning. I just had nothing left in the tank coming in and I started feeling it at the end with those bogeys.”

After hitting just four fairways en route to a first-round 72, Woodland hit that many fairways on his first four holes Friday. Early on, his sharp touch resulted in birdies.

On No. 10, however, Woodland found trouble just a smidgeon off the short grass. Not only did his drive on the Pinehurst No. 2’s last par-5 roll just off the fairway, it rolled into a slight hole. After calling in a second rules official, Woodland was not allowed any relief and did all he could to advance the ball.

“I asked for a drop and I didn’t get it,” said Woodland, “and I just had to pop it out of there.”

The end result was the first of his four bogeys on the back nine.

Nonetheless, Woodland was undeterred. He left the course immediately after his round, got some nourishment and seemed eager to seize on the positives that came from his front-nine surge, which included birdies on Nos. 1, 4 and 7, as well as sand saves for pars on Nos. 6 and 9.

“I’m ready to get back out there. I’m feeling good. I like this course and I like the way I’m hitting the ball,” Woodland said.

“I’m going to get recharged, get back out there tomorrow and I feel confident that I can play well and post a good score.”

Woodland, who sits in a tie for 33rd place, will begin his third round at 11:18 a.m. Saturday with fellow American Daniel Berger.

Another KU product, Chris Thompson, did not make the cut. He shot a 4-over 74 on Friday after opening with an 80.

“At least I hit some good shots. Yesterday was not good at all,” said Thompson, who advanced through Open qualifying.

“There were a few positives to take away, but overall I’ve got to clean up my iron play. It’s been pretty poor the last couple weeks. Pretty poor all week, even the practice rounds. Visually, this course is pretty intimidating. I just didn’t get comfortable with my irons.”

Thompson’s lone birdie in the second round came on the par-4 11th hole after he placed a 5-iron to within six feet. From Pinehurst, Thompson will attempt to qualify for some upcoming Web.com Tour events in the Midwest, beginning next week in Wichita.